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"SmartFlu will enable physicians to get ahead of viral and bacterial infections. This test will be beneficial not only for clinicians but also for researchers to develop novel tailored treatment strategies and find potential inflammatory molecular markers/alterations in the sinonasal microbiome.”

SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB)December 31, 2018

uBiome, the leader in microbial genomics, announced the launch of SmartFlu™, the world's first doctor-ordered, at-home upper respiratory test, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a turn around time of 24 hours for viral results, SmartFlu helps patients and their healthcare providers determine which of more than 20 microbes is related to their cold or flu symptoms with an easy-to-use nasal swab.

“We are excited to introduce SmartFlu and bring the power of our platform to patients with cold and flu symptoms,” said Jessica Richman, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of uBiome. “We are excited to initially launch this product in the San Francisco Bay Area, with additional local and nationwide launches coming soon.”

SmartFlu detects bacteria and viruses associated with health conditions including influenza, the common cold, and bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract. Healthcare providers and patients receive a report with detailed information about the respiratory viruses and bacteria in their sample. SmartFlu detects over 20 microbes associated with common upper respiratory tract infections.

Dr. Jana Jandova, Ph.D., Scientific Investigator at the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Arizona and a member of uBiome’s scientific advisory board, said, “My research is focused on rhinosinusitis, which along with other acute upper viral respiratory infections, is a disease associated with impaired quality of life and substantial medical care costs. SmartFlu will enable physicians to get ahead of viral and bacterial infections. This test will be beneficial not only for clinicians but also for researchers to develop novel tailored treatment strategies and find potential inflammatory molecular markers/alterations in the sinonasal microbiome.”

SmartFlu is only available through licensed healthcare providers. SmartFlu is not intended to replace a clinical evaluation by a trained health professional. Patients should consult with a healthcare provider to interpret the results provided in the SmartFlu report. Patients should seek immediate medical attention if they experience a combination of any of the following symptoms: confusion or disorientation, shortness of breath, high heart rate, chest pain, coughing up blood, sudden dizziness or fainting, severe or persistent vomiting, fever (body temperature over 100.4 F), shivering or feeling very cold, extreme pain or discomfort, or clammy or sweaty skin. SmartFlu may potentially detect the presence of influenza virus in patients who have received a nasally delivered, live, attenuated, cold-adapted influenza vaccine within the previous 28 days.

About uBiome
Founded in 2012, uBiome is the leader in microbial genomics. The Company’s mission is to advance the science of the microbiome and make it useful to people. uBiome combines its patented proprietary precision sequencing™ with machine learning and artificial intelligence to develop wellness products, clinical tests, and therapeutic targets. uBiome has filed for over 250 patents on its technology, which includes sample preparation, computational analysis, molecular techniques, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

uBiome’s commercial products include SmartGut™, the world’s first sequencing-based clinical microbiome test, which identifies microbes in the gut for patients with chronic gut conditions such as IBD, IBS, Crohn’s Disease, and ulcerative colitis; SmartJane™, the first sequencing-based women’s health screening test, which genotypes all 19 clinically relevant strains of HPV, identifies four common STDs, and surveys more than 20 vaginal microbes associated with bacterial vaginosis and other conditions; and Explorer™, a health and wellness product to understand the role that food and lifestyle can play in wellness.

uBiome’s platform has been used by hundreds of thousands of consumers, patients, and doctors and more than 200 research institutions around the world, including the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), US National Institutes of Health (NIH), Harvard University, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of California, San Francisco, Oxford University, and the University of Sydney.

Since its launch, the company has received widespread recognition including CNN 10: Startups to Watch, the IVY Technology Award, CNN Future 30, and was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in Healthcare in 2016 and in Data Science in 2018, as well as a Technology Pioneer from the World Economic Forum in 2018. For more information, visit http://www.uBiome.com.